Team boss David Greig's wish for Blantyre Vics to be taken seriously as challengers for Junior football's honours received a massive boost on Saturday when his side ran out 5-2 winners over Wishaw to secure a Euroscot Eng Sectional League Cup Final date against Cumbernauld United.

The Vics arrived for the semi-final at Beltane Park unbeaten in eight games but started nervously, with underdogs Wishaw almost taking the lead early on from a Kevin Barry Grant free-kick.

The visiting Vics gradually grew into the game, however, and snatched a goal apiece from experienced pair Davie Green and David Kirkwood in the first half's closing quarter of an hour.

"We caused a lot of our own problems in being slow out of the blocks and allowing Wishaw to get into their stride, but the guys upped their game to earn a 2-0 lead and at that stage I always felt we were going to win the game," said Vics boss Greig afterwards.

He added: "To their credit, Wishaw never gave up the cause and at only 2-1 down their tails were up, but Kirky has missed a penalty kick that would have put the game out of sight before ultimately we did just that."

"Fraser Malcolm was in unstoppable form down the left side and his promptings should have seen us add further goals, but it's hard to be critical with a team that has won 5-2 in a semi-final."

It should be said that another contributory factor in Wishaw's downfall was whistler Willie Wilson's penchant for yellow cards - he dished out six to Wishaw players and one to Kirkwood before half time.

Another five were brandished in the second half including the second cautions of the afternoon for Wishaw duo Mark Daly and Craig Crawford, leaving Wishaw to see out the game with nine men.

Daly's dismissal for a collision with Galt inside the box, which resulted in the awarding of a penalty kick, came at a time when Wishaw had finally unstitched the Vics defence, with half-time substitute Michael Collinder cutting inside from the left flank to net with a low shot aided by a deflection.

Wishaw goalkeeper Sandy Thomson brilliantly saved Kirkwood's well struck spot kick, but an ensuing corner kick taken by Galt saw Vics centre-back Lee McShane rise to bullet home a header for 3-1.

An uphill task became even steeper shortly afterwards when Crawford received his marching orders for a petulant trip on Vics winger David Galt.

Wishaw's nine men still refused to lie down, however, and pulled a goal back on 69 minutes when Nicky Moore pounced on a defensive error to run through and round goalkeeper John Mullen before slotting a low shot into the empty net.

Almost straight from the kick-off Kirkwood scored with a back header to finally extinguish any hopes of a fightback, before substitute Alan Christie added a fifth.

The final whistle brought defeated Wishaw gaffer John McKeown to admit: "Ultimately we have shot ourselves in the foot.

"It's hard enough playing a team like Blantyre with 11 players on the pitch let alone nine. We had players walking a tightrope in the second half knowing one mistimed tackle would get them their marching orders.

"Mark and Craig are more culpable for stupidly being yellow carded for dissent - I warned them not to give the referee a decision to make but they did and let their team mates down as a result."

A trio of Central First Division rivals capitalised on Blantyre's cup tie involvement by racking up victories to move above them in the standings.

Leading the way are Renfrew, for whom Scott Arthur and Jamie Bemton were on target in a 2-0 defeat of bottom club Lanark United, whose manager Brian Johnston resigned in the aftermath of his side's fourth league defeat on the spin.

Sharing top spot with a 100% record are Lesmahagow, who secured a 4-2 win away to Dunipace, while Bellshill Athletic are up to third thanks to a 4-1 win over Vale of Clyde.

Meanwhile, Auchinleck Talbot overcame Hurlford United 1-0, Petershill beat Clydebank 2-1, and Shotts recovered from going behind to a headed goal from Arthurlie midfielder Ryan McGregor to win 2-1 at Hannah Park.